But the chance of that is about zero, as things are. I canít see the government surviving if it tried. There are too many Brexiteers among the Tories - theyíre making things difficult as it is.

Maybe if the Irish business brings down the Government (I donít think it will). And if Labour get in (maybe, but I wouldnít bet a lot on it). And if they can be persuaded to give up on it (another big maybe).

The whole things a big mess. But itís likely to get worse rather than better.

There's still a hope that when we eventually get to the end of all this, the public will have realised what a fucking stupid thing we've done and another vote will be held. This time the students might get out of bed and vote. Long shot tho'.

Don't overlook the economic "growth" percentages for the world, western nations, & UK

The 2017 year will be the first full year of the post Brexit United Kingdom.

Might as well take a look at the economic data when we have it.

(Not like it isn't fair to see the report card)

(I still have no idea why - with 57% of British incomes spend on housing costs ALONE(!) - immigrants were singled out & seen as some major drag factor, or a drag factor at all, on native Brit's well being. Slow population growth down, and hope for a little housing pressure relief? A real solution to very real economic problems would be nice.)

From a strictly legal point of view, it's not entirely clear. Per the treaty as written; the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. There is a provision that this date can be extended by mutual agreement, but that's intended to give more time for negotiations. I suppose it could be indefinitely extended, but that's not really in line with the meaning of the treaty.

Rejoining the EU would, in theory, mean applying as a new member. Now, in one sense that would be simple - UK legislation is already in line with EU legislation, so the accession process can be completed as a formailty. Except that the UK currently has a bit of a cushy deal with the EU including several opt-outs. Applying as a new member would mean having to negotiate these anew; and some member-states (and the current Commission) are opposed in principle to the idea of any new opt-outs and exceptions in future accessions.

In practice I think it's just a matter of political will - if member states all agree that the process can be cancelled, then it can be. If they don't then it can't. There's no precedent for this sort of thing.